A Prayer for a Gospel-saturated Grace-inundated Lent - by Scotty Smith

This post was orginally posted here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2012/02/22/a-prayer-for-a-gospel-saturated-grace-inundated-lent/

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.” Mark 2:19-20

Dear Lord Jesus, it’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. For the next forty days we have the privilege of focusing our hearts, surveying your cross, and preparing for the greatest of all celebrations: Easter—the foundation of our hope and the fountain of eternal joy. What a great opportunity and gift.

For your glory and our growth, we ask you to inundate us with fresh grace in the coming weeks. We don’t want an ordinary Lenten season, Jesus. Saturate it with the gospel; overwhelm us with your daily mercies; stun us with your steadfast love—the only love that will never come to an end. It’s all about you, Jesus, it’s all about you what you’ve done forus, not what we promise to do for you.

Sadly, I used to dread Lent like late summer football practice—a lot of striving and sweat, mixed in with much uncertainty and fear. “What’s the coach thinking about my performance? Am I doomed to sit on the bench? Will I even make the team this year?” What a complete misrepresentation of the gospel. What a dismal way to live the Christian life. You’re calling us to repentant faith, not penitent doubt. We’re a betrothed bride, not a berated people—those upon whom you’ve set your heart and lavished your love.

Indeed, Jesus, we begin Lent today anticipating our wedding, not our funeral, for you’re the loving bridegroom who died to make us your cherished bride. The work’s already done; the dowry has been paid in full; the wedding dress of your righteousness is already ours; the invitations have been sent out; the date has been secured; and you’ll not change your mind! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Over these next forty days intensify our hunger for you, Lord, and ignite our longing for the day of your return—the Day of consummate joy, the wedding feast of the Lamb. In light of that banquet, we choose to deny ourselves (fast from) certain pleasures for this brief season. But we’re not looking to get one thing from you, Jesus—just more of you. Fill our hearts with your beauty and bounty. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and loving name.

The Mystery of Marriage - by James Pruch

When most of us think of "Christian marriage," we think of a marriage between a man and a woman that is, generally, kindhearted and pleasant, filled with fidelity, and a steady diet of church, Bible study, and other Christian activities. 

But is that all marriage is? Ephesians 5:22-33 tells us that God purposefully designed marriage to be a life-action dramatization of how Jesus relates to his church. Certainly that has implications for us! Paul ups the ante for Christian husbands and wives when he tells them what their roles really mean. The husband is to imitate Christ, who died for his Bride. The husbands, then, are to die to themselves by denying the desires and needs that do not benefit their wife. The wife is to imitate the Church, who lovingly adores and submits to Christ, her Husband. The wives, then, are to not play the role of doormat, but should defer ultimate leadership in the home to her husband. After all, any football team knows that two quarterbacks make for divided allegiance.

Marriage then is a picture of a far greater reality. That reality is the gospel. Marriage should be held in high regard, but it is not the ultimate thing. Christ and his Bride is the true marriage, the true matrimonial reality. When we see that the gospel is our true hope for lasting fulfillment, and when we see that relationship with Christ is the only relationship that will truly satisfy, will will then (and only then) pursue this high calling of Christian marriage.

A Prayer for Valentine's Day - by Scotty Smith

This post was originally posted here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2012/02/14/a-prayer-for-valentines-day/

I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. Song of Sol. 7:10

Gracious Jesus, it’s the day in our culture in which red hearts, overpriced cards, dark chocolates, and cut flowers abound—Valentine’s Day is upon us. For some, it’s a day of incredible kindness, sweetness, and gratitude. For others, it’s a day in which brokenness, loneliness, and emptiness are magnified. For all of us, it should be a day in which our longings for intimacy and rich connection find their way home to you, Jesus, the consummate lover.

How fitting that I’m presently 35 thousand feet in the air somewhere between Dallas and Nashville, for as I contemplate the wonders of your love this morning, my heart soars to regions where your mercy is endless, your grace abounds and your love is lavish. Oh to more fully grasp the liberating implications of this heart-thrilling affirmation, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” How can this be so? How can this really be true? I believe, help my unbelief.

Grace me with a deeper and richer experience of belonging to you, Jesus. I’m no longer my own, hallelujah! You died for me; you bought me; you married yourself to me. You actually desire me, want me, enjoy me… you are the ultimate Spouse. All I really need in life, and in death, is your love, Lord Jesus. This is my unquestioned theology, make it ever-pulsating doxology.

Indeed, free me from the insidious thievery of my unbelief. One moment I believe you truly delight in me and rejoice over me with singing; and the next I can be filled with disorienting unbelief. That’s when I begin to place unrealistic demands on other relationships. But there’s no one human being (or any number of them)—there’s no other romance story, no torrid love affair can possibly fill the God-shaped vacuum in my soul.

Even the best marriage is merely a hint and whisper what it means to belong to you. Even the worse marriage can become a garden in a desert where you meet us, free us and overwhelm us with your all-sufficient love.

Oh for the day when my betrothal becomes the day of great banqueting—the day I long for more than any other—the wedding feast of the Lamb. Until that Day, free me to love others as you love me. You are enough, Jesus, more than enough. So very Amen I pray, in your tender and tenacious name.

Oasis 02.01.12 - New Series "True Love" & the Myth about Sex

So we started a new series last night at Oasis for the month of February called "True Love." We'll be focusing on the topics of love, sex, dating, and marriage and seeing how the Gospel applies to them. We talk about these issues a lot (at least every year), and we know that some students are perhaps tired of talking about them. Nonetheless, they are vitally important for high school students to think about. Why? Because living a God-honoring lifestyle in these areas can save them from a world of hurt and pain. We're talking about this stuff because we want students to have awesome relationships, with the Lord and with the opposite gender. 

So last night we talked about sex. God designed the marriage relationship and sexual intimacy in a marriage relationship actually to be a reflection and an expression of His exclusive, faithful relationship with us. 

Two preliminary things to be aware of were: 1. Your past will show up in your future - what you are practicing now will not easily go away in your future; so realize that what you're doing now MATTERS! 2. You think that meeting the "right person" will make everything alright. It won't. We always expect the other person to be our savior to some degree. The only problem is that they are looking at us and thinking the exact same thing. And we're both screwed up! We're both sinful; we both have issues. The question you need to ask yourself is "Am I the person that the person I'm looking for is looking for?" (read that slowly again.... it will make sense eventually!). 

We look at 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:9 and saw that the Bible holds up a radically HIGHER view of sex than any other view out there. Paul, in this passage, shows us that the biblical view of sex is neither the "sex is just a physical appetite" kind of thing or the "sex is gross and wrong and evil" view. 

The main myth about sex that we confronted is that sex is just physical. Our society says it's just physical. It's just something you do. But the truth is that sex is NOT just physical and we all know it. Ask a person who was sexually abused; ask someone who was raped. They will tell you that sex is not just physical. 

Sexual sin is not like any other sin NOT because God hates it more, not because it won't be forgiven you, not because it will keep you from heaven, but because it hurts you in a way that no other sin does. It is NOT just physical. 

The problem, though, is that NONE OF US is without sin. Most high school students already have some kind of sexual baggage. We've been hurt badly by a boyfriend or girlfriend; we've gone too far sexually with someone (maybe our boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe not); we've made a  certain crush on someone ultimate; we've made them our "god"; we've indulged in internet pornography; OR we think we're better than everyone else because we haven't done any of these things. When we think about this, it is SO GOOD TO KNOW (for those of us who are Christians), IT IS GOOD NEWS that Jesus Christ took all of our sin, and all of that guilt and shame and dirtiness that we've felt, and He paid the full price for it on the cross. If you have received that free grace from Him, it’s gone! You’re clean! You are freed! And you need to let go of it—some of you are still holding on to it! JESUS REMAINED PURE FOR YOU! HE IS SPOTLESS AND RADIENT! HIS PERFECTION COVERS YOUR MESS AND MY MESS! IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU’VE DONE; IT’S ABOUT WHAT HE’S DONE FOR YOU! Our response to this must be to worship Him. How else could we respond to such a wonderful Savior?

Homosexuality Talk Follow Up...

Hey All,

I just wanted to follow up from last night.  This series has been very encouraging so far, and we still have one more topic to discuss next week.  We got a lot of positive feedback from Brad's talk on abortion and we have also got some great feedback on the talk from last night on homosexality.  Please pray for James as he prepares to close out our series on "Christian Ethics," with suicide next Wednesday.  

Last night was a exciting topic for me to discuss as it is close to my heart.  A couple of years ago, God placed a good friend in my life who struggled with homosexuality.  I spent the next ten months with him diving into Scripture, having numerous heart to heart discussions, and doing life together with him.  I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to help someone deal with their specific struggle with sin, and God even grew me in my walk as well.  

I shared numerous passages last night including Romans 1:18-32, 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 8:28, 10:9, 10.  I also spent some time in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.  I challenged our students to not look at homosexuality as an issue, but from a perspective of looking at that individual through the eyes of God: seeing them as a person created in the image of God.  The theme revolved around the fact that we are all sinners and homosexuality should not be a sin that is seperated from other sin.  I then closed the night with Matthew 22:37-40, and John 8:1-11 that again focuses on how we are to respond to those living in sin.  I made it clear that it is not okay to continue to live in our sins, but if our lives contradict Scripture, then it is up to us to make the necessary changes.  In conclusion, we are called to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, and then to love others as ourselves.  How we treat those living a life set apart from God will determine our if we truly understand the commandment Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37-40.  

In Christ,

Ryan Potter